When are you brining in your guinea pigs?

[strongasmeringue]

We have two boys who will be two in January. They are currently in their hutch on the patio with a cosy bed in the enclosed part. It has definitely got colder these last couple of days so I'm wondering when they should come in. If they stay out as long as possible they will have more room to play in but if they come in they will be warmer and have someone in the room with them most of the day and DDog for company at night. They seem to be eating more of their hay these last few days too and I don't know if that is relevant.

[FernieB]

Mine are indoor pigs all the time but do go outside in their run most days. This last week has been much colder so they’ve only managed about an hour outside at the most (only 30 mins today). It really depends where you are in the country. Southern pigs may be able to stay outdoors longer than their Northern cousins. Go with your instincts. Even when you’ve brought them indoors, they may be able to spend some time outside each day. Mine actually managed some hours outdoors in December last year as it was mild.

[RavenLG]

Ours our outdoor through the day but indoors on an evening. We tend to stop putting them out when it drops below 10degrees. If we bring them in too early they start getting tetchy (sp?) with each other by the new year lol

[strongasmeringue]

The problem is the grass is nearly always wet so they can't go on the lawn and the patio is good for pedicures but useless for snacking on. I'm going to check the weather for the next couple of days and get dh cleaning out their cage in preparation.

[SkintAsASkintThing]

When I had piggies I kept them in two large dogcrates cable tied together when I brought them in with a little bed in there.

[SkintAsASkintThing]

Like this but took off the front door and cabled them together but still had the side door for access......my oh even made them a ramp to cover the join.

They were a bit pampered

[EastMidsGPs]

Ours are in the utility room. It is a bit earlier this year because our elderly pig was getting frail and has since died. They did go out for about an hour a day tho.
This week we got a new baby who'd been inside at the rescue so she went straight into the utility room.
Our remaining adult pig, has been outside every dry day for a sniff and wander.

The grass is still lush so we do cut it for them to eat, we pat it dry before giving it to them.
The baby has tried a few blades.

For the time when the grass is poor or icy or covered in snow DH grows them grass in seed trays to munch on. But then, as I've recently discovered, he spoils the piggies beyond belief.

[strongasmeringue]

Our grass will be permanently wet now for months so what to do?

It's bugging me every time that I missed out the g in bringing in the title. Grr.

[FernieB]

it’s got me pondering about brining them - bung them in a nice bit of salty water and preserve them! Wonder if they do that in Peru?

[Jappydooda]

I used to bring mine in in November. They then lived in the utility room in two adjoined large cages which they loved, because they could hear when the fridge opened!

As a substitute for grass, I used to feed them readi-grass which you can get in small bags from pet shops or if you want to buy in bulk, from a tack shop in the feed section.

[millimat]

Ours are now in at night and out in the day.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Usually early December ( they come in for the Guy Fawkes period)
My rodenty type have hutches in a playhouse and have tonnes of fresh bedding to snuggle in at night , with a Snugglepad tucked in.
We've put thick cardboard and polystyrene sheets (from packing boxes) behind the hutches away from their gnawing little teeth , to insulate.